I am also 30. The sucky thing about bipolar disorder is you can't just decide to take your mood stabilizing meds because you're having a particularly bad day. They don't work like Ativan and that class of meds (that counteract/block adrenaline from anxiety and PTSD). They take a slow time to build up in your blood stream and brain and you can't miss a dose without there being consequences. If it does work to stabilize your moods when up to a therapeutic dose (which may take 6-8 weeks) you can't quit it and decide you're fine. Keep taking it = keep feeling good. Use the stabilizer "as needed" = serious problems physically and mentally. They won't drug you to the point of not feeling anything. If you get to that point and they won't change your meds, see a new doctor and then taper off the old med. You're always in control of your treatment. If something doesn't work or gives you a bad reaction, you tell the doc. If he or she is not responsive to your concerns about a med (eg. weight gain, hair loss, anxiety, it's not doing anything, etc.) you can taper off of it and see a new doc to get a medication that is better for you. If you're not having horrible side effects, however, give the medication some time to work. Like I said, it's a slow buildup process and they'll give you other things temporarily until your main med does work.

There is no magic bullet pill for everyone. You may have to try and discard many before you feel relief, but don't give up. Be sure to tell your psychiatrist or MD that you are bipolar so they don't give you regular antidepressants...which can induce manic or mixed episodes.